HERITAGE HEROES RECOGNISED
Two Midlands residents, Jackie Kalley and Bruce Prescott, were honoured for their contribution to preserving the area's heritage.
Kalley received her award from the Lion's river Heritage Society for creating the books, Farm Houses of Old Natal and Houses of Old Maritzburg, which celebrate buildings in KwaZulu-Natal.
A former librarian at the South African Institute of International Affairs at the University of the Witwatersrand for 25 years, she was later appointed as senior librarian and publications officer at the Electoral Institute for the Sustainability of Democracy (EISA) in Johannesburg where she was responsible for the coordination and publication of journal and book production.
Kalley now runs Otterley Press, which is based in Pietermaritzburg.
Jenny Hoepfl, from the Lion's River Heritage Society said they had come to know and admire Kalley more her writing, and especially for her 'tenacity in obtaining information for her books."
She added: "Despite setbacks she has produced and published many other books, but the two that are relevant to Midlands' history are these two books - Farm Houses
of Old Natal and Houses of Old
Maritzburg - with photographs by Hugh Bland book.
"Jackie will tell you that the best way to find these places is drive around the area and literally knock on doors - and I can vouch for the fact that everyone has given her a very warm reception. We thank you so much for recording these [buildings] in these beautiful books for us. It is a record of these places."
Prescott was honoured for his commitment to restoring and preserving the brass plaques dedicated to the soldiers who fell in World War I on the Cenotaph in Howick, opposite the Howick Hotel.
The plaques have been rehung in the Howick Museum to prevent them being stolen and to preserve the past. In their place are new durable plaques, made by Signco, which feature gold lettering on a dark brown background.
A new name has also been added to the memorial, to reflect the contribution of a man named Ndabana, who died during the sinking of the Mendi. Some of his descendents still live in Mpophomeni.
The Lion's River Heritage Society contributed R2 500 to the project.
Presenting Prescott with the award, Hoepfl said: "The Lion's River Heritage Society is enormously grateful for all the hard work and dedication Bruce has given to the restoration of this memorial."
Prescott, who retired to Howick with his wife, Pauline, said he was inspired to undertake the project in part because his father had been a staunch member of the Transvaal Scottish Association and because he had been concerned about the state of the war memorial.
"The Cenotaph was bare; there was grass growing everywhere; there was litter everywhere and I said something has to be done about this," he added.
Prescott made contact with AMAFA (KwaZulu-Natal Amafa and Research Institute) and got their permission to go ahead with the project.
An aeronautical and mechanical engineer, Prescott managed the SAA office in the Boeing assembly plant in Seattle, Washington. He was recently awarded honorary membership of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Aeronautical Society distinguished service award.
The next meeting of the society will take place on October 23 and will include a talk by Dr Isri Bedassi about the contribution made by indentured Indian labourers to life in the Midlands.